Always cheery, endlessly moving, oddly young-seeming — that’s the average farm broadcaster at farm and agriculture events. If you’ve been to many farm shows, you’ve probably seen a few. They’re often found holding a microphone in the face of farmers stopped along the rows and booths of a show or some bigwig thrown into a […] Read more
Tag Archives World Pork Expo
Vets say it’s possible to eliminate PED in U.S.
DES MOINES, Iowa — With enough commitment, U.S. hog producers can eliminate porcine epidemic diarrhea. That was the shared position of a number of leading American swine veterinarians at the World Pork Expo. “I believe that we can get it eliminated,” said Laura Dalquist, a veterinarian with the Swine Vet Centre. “I think it’s possible.” […] Read more
Disease can affect workers
DES MOINES, Iowa — When Dr. Deb Murray arrived at a sow barn to deliver the news that porcine epidemic diarrhea virus had broken out, she scrambled into action. She started making plans and organizing the emergency management plan. Then she noticed that most of the staff were sitting in the office, dejected and looking lost. […] Read more
Brazil expected to be bigger meat competitor
Country’s cost of production is the lowest in the world for a number of commodities, making it increasingly competitive
The U.S. cow herd is at 30-year lows, but Americans are still in love with burgers, so imports from outside North America will be a fact of life, analysts said at the World Pork Expo. That means Brazilian beef will likely reach into the U.S. burger supply chain. “How much of that grinding beef can […] Read more
ASF prep pays off in disease vigilance
DES MOINES, Iowa — There aren’t many silver linings in the cloud of African Swine Fever fear that hangs over the world’s hog industry, but one gleamed in Australia when a different disease broke out. It was Japanese encephalitis, but due to heightened disease vigilance caused by the appearance of ASF in Asia and Europe, […] Read more
PRRS hog virus now tougher to control
DES MOINES, Iowa — Today’s PRRS isn’t yesterday’s PRRS. That means pig producers and veterinarians should mutate their approaches in the same way that Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome is mutating. “The virus has modified, so we need to do the same,” said vet and producer Dr. Deb Murray, of New Fashion Pork, after a […] Read more
VIDEO: Consulates build the bridges for trade with the U.S.
To say that federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lawrence MacAulay received a warm welcome when he visited the World Pork Expo and the Midwest would be an understatement. At the giant pig farming show and in the Iowa capital of Des Moines, he was able to meet with heads of America’s main hog farming and […] Read more
Fragile pigs an unexpected risk of past breeding efforts
DES MOINES, Iowa — Years ago, when Mark Soleta of Lakefield, Minnesota, brought in a load of freshly weaned Canadian piglets, he was confident those pigs would easily handle any disease challenges they faced. That confidence is gone. More World Pork Expo coverage can be found here. “Every day we’re on eggshells,” he said with […] Read more
VIDEO: Bland outlook for rest of 2024 hog market
Most farmers were able to make money on market hogs in the first few months of 2024, but prices have weakened
DES MOINES, Iowa — It’s better than losing a lot of money, but hog producers are facing razor-thin profitability for the remainder of 2024, say two leading hog market analysts. “I don’t see us as much better than break-even,” said Steve Meyer, who gave a number of hog market outlooks at the World Pork Expo, […] Read more
VIDEO: MacAulay boosts Canada at expo
DES MOINES, Iowa — Federal agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay gave Canadian farmers and agriculture a big boost at this year’s World Pork Expo by touring the show, meeting American industry leaders and hosting a who’s-who of Iowa business leaders at a reception. The visit by a Canadian agriculture minister to this event was the first […] Read more
